Vons Names New Chairman, Executive Vice President

Lawrence A. Del Santo has been elected chairman of Vons Cos., succeeding Roger E. Strangeland, who is retiring. Del Santo, 61, joined Vons in 1994 as vice chairman and chief executive. The Arcadia-based supermarket operator also announced the appointment of Pamela K. Knous as executive vice president and chief financial officer. Knous, who joined the company in 1991, was senior vice president and chief financial officer. Strangeland will continue to serve on the company’s board of directors.

* SunAmerica Inc. announced that Joseph M. Tumbler is joining SunAmerica in a newly created position as one of two vice chairmen. At the same time, the Century City company also announced the promotion of Jay S. Wintrob to vice chairman from executive vice president. Tumbler, 46, will be responsible for all key operating areas. He was formerly president and chief executive of Providian Capital Management, a unit of Providian Corp. Wintrob, 38, is the president of SunAmerica Investments, which manages the company’s $9.5-billion investment portfolio, and the chairman of SunAmerica’s Credit Committee. SunAmerica is a financial services company specializing in the sale of long-term savings products and investments to those seeking to save for retirement.